Sudanese, Ugandan leaders hold business, security talks

CNARED condemns Tanzanian and Ugandan Presidents' position over ICC decision

Melinda Barton
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14 November, 2017, 10:43

This will be his second visit after attending the swearing-in ceremony of H.E. President Yoweri Museveni on May 12, 2016.

President Omar Al-Bashir will be in Uganda on a state visit, starting on Tuesday the 14th of November to the 16th of November 2017.

Meanwhile Presidents Museveni and Bashir also agreed to increase the trade and diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The visit by Omar el Bashir comes 5 months before the 6th session of joint Uganda- Sudan Ministerial commission slated for March 2018 in Kampala Uganda.

Both Bashir and his Ugandan counterpart vowed to back efforts aimed at finding permanent solutions to the civil war in South Sudan.

The presidents also reviewed the implementation of the decisions made during President Museveni's official visit to Sudan in September 2015 as well as the 5th Joint Ministerial Commission.

Making a relationship with Sudan key to Uganda's economic growth.

Upon learning of Bashir's visit to Uganda, several human rights groups called for the arrest of the Sudanese leader, in power since 1989.

Hurinet coordinator Muhammad Ndifuna told journalists on Monday thus: "As a party to the Rome Statute, Uganda has an unequivocal obligation to cooperate with ICC in relation to enforcement of warrants of arrest issued against Omar Bashir, Inviting an global criminal suspect to Uganda not only undermines the fight against impunity which Uganda has for long championed but also betrays the concerns and interests of the victim of the most heinous crimes".

Sudan imports 20% of Uganda coffee and is the single biggest export market for the product from which about U.S. $ 100 million is earned.

Ugandan authorities say the Sudanese leader is immune from arrest because he is a head of state visiting at the invitation of Uganda's government.

President Bashir and his delegation will also be hosted to a state dinner this evening, meet different groups and address the media.

During the upcoming Official Visit by President Omar Al-Bashir, a number of areas of cooperation will be discussed including trade and investment, agriculture, regional peace and security as well as global matters of mutual interest.